The illegal arrest and manhandling of Akbayan party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel is eloquent proof that de facto martial law is very much in effect with wholesale violation of civil liberties.
As pointed out by administration defender, Rep. Edcel Lagman, Rep. Baraquel enjoyed immunity from arrest because Congress was in session and the crime of illegal assembly is punishable by less than six years.
Risa Baraquel, who was recently widowed and one of the more moderate of leftist leaders, was leading Akbayan women in a commemoration of International Women’s Day at the Welcome Rotunda, Quezon City. She insisted she was manhandled and forcibly dragged into a police van.
Gen. Nicasio Radovan, Quezon City Police District chief, claimed Baraquel was not arrested but just “invited” for questioning. The usual excuse, as was given in the case of Prof. Randy David.
That’s the problem with the police. They are not even man enough to admit they arrested a person. Note that two of the policemen who forced Baraquel into the mobile police van were in civilian clothes without any identification.
Read this too: Christopher Hill delivered Washington's message to Ate Glo.
UPDATE: PNP worst abuser of human rights in RP, according to the US State Dept. I'm not surprised by this report. Implementor kasi sila ng CPR ni Arroyo eh, so abuses are more than likely to occur.
More: Illegal Assembly charge readied against Rep. Baraquel
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3 comments:
Hi John. The arrest of Risa was another one of those cattleprod maneuvers of Gloria. She's testing us, the way Marcos tested us by suspending the writ of habeas corpus after the Mendiola bombing. When no one yelled "foul!", he went ahead with martial law. Gloria's testing us constantly, seeing how far she can go. I am hopeful that we won't be as easily led into her corral, but at the rate the apathy's going, those of us who are wise to her may not be numerous enough to stop the sheep from getting penned.
the fact that the CBCP as an organization is for the status quo ("Arroyo remain") and pro-Cha cha is a big problem, Helga.
Yes, that may be so, but if you read the latest pronouncement by Lagdameo, they are a touch closer to our side than they were a couple of months ago. A friend in the know thinks that Lagdameo is just easing into his new post, and there is hope that he will steer the CBCP in the right direction. Let's hope he's right.
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